Business · Companies · 22 hrs ago
Singapore Court Finds Major Procedural Failures in Seizure of Bill Darmadi’s Funds
Singapore seized nearly S$140 million from four bank accounts belonging to Bill Darmadi in May 2023.
Bill is the son of Surya Darmadi, an Indonesian palm oil businessman convicted in Indonesia of corruption and money laundering.
Singapore investigators suspected that Bill helped retain proceeds from his father’s crimes, including funds transferred from Indonesian companies to companies linked to Bill.
A Singapore court found that investigators missed a legal deadline to report the seizure and later failed to give Bill a chance to respond to an application to extend it.
The judge said these were significant failures and that investigators lacked authority over the funds during part of the delay.
But the court said the delay did not by itself mean the funds had to be returned.
A Singapore court kept nearly S$140 million seized from four bank accounts belonging to Bill Darmadi.
The funds were seized in May 2023 as part of an investigation into whether Bill helped retain proceeds of crimes attributed to his father, Surya Darmadi.
The court found significant procedural failures by Singapore’s Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau, including a missed deadline to report the seizure.
It ruled that those failures did not by themselves require the funds to be returned.
The judge also found that Bill’s right to be heard was breached during a 2025 application to extend the seizure.
- Who
- Bill Darmadi, the account holder, and Singapore’s Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau.
- What
- The court kept nearly S$140 million seized from Bill’s accounts, despite finding significant procedural failures.
- When
- The seizure was made on 17 May 2023; the court’s decision was made in September 2026 and released on 3 October 2026.
- Where
- Singapore.
- Why
- Authorities suspected Bill helped retain proceeds of crimes attributed to his father, Surya Darmadi.
Bill Darmadi
Singapore’s Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau
Legality of continued seizure
Bill Darmadi
Bill’s lawyers argued that missing the reporting deadline made continued seizure illegal and that the funds should be returned.
Singapore’s Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau
The court found CPIB lacked authority to control the funds during the delay, but said that did not itself justify returning them after the seizure was reported.
Opportunity to respond
Bill Darmadi
Bill’s lawyers sought the basis for CPIB’s extension request so they could advise him, and the judge found his right to be heard was breached in the 2025 process.
Singapore’s Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau
CPIB did not provide Bill notice of the 2025 application or the report supporting it.
The significant lapses must not be repeated.
The previously unlawful period of control does not, by itself, provide a reason for returning the funds now.
CPIB seized nearly S$140 million from four of Bill Darmadi’s bank accounts in Singapore.
CPIB told Bill it planned to report the seizure and seek an extension.
The deadline for CPIB to report the seizure to the court passed.
CPIB filed its report on the seizure, bringing it back under court supervision.
A Singapore court issued its decision on the seizure.
The decision was released.
- Funds seized
- Nearly S$140 million
- Accounts
- Four bank accounts belonging to Bill Darmadi
- Seizure date
- 17 May 2023
- Reporting deadline
- 17 May 2024
- CPIB report filed
- 24 March 2025
- Judge
- Shen Wanqin
Sources
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